document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1112962>Question 1112962</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Please help me. 2p+3, 4p+3, and 5p+2 are the first three terms in an arithmetic sequence. How to find p?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Thank you.  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #728004 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rothauserc><B>rothauserc(4718)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rothauserc><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=rothauserc><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=728004\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> the formula for the nth term of an arithmetic sequence is<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x(n) = a + d(n-1), where a is the first term and d is the common difference<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x(1) = a + d(1-1) = a, therefore<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a = 2p +3<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "we see that the second term ( x(2) ) is<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "4p +3 = 2p +3 +d<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "solve for d<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "d = 2p<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x(3) is<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "5p +2 = 2p +3 +2p(2)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "solve for p<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "5p +2 = 6p +3<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "p = -1<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "therefore, a=1, d=-2 and the sequence is<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "1, -1, -3<BR>\n" );
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